The second most frequently asked question I get is, “How did you get the book deal?” 

Well, I had written a humor column for a paper in Queens a few years ago. When the paper folded, I wasn’t sure where or how to pitch my special brand of humor next. So, I signed up for a humor-writing class with Lynn Harris, co-creator of Breakup Girl and author of the comic novel “Death By Chick Lit,” at Mediabistro in Manhattan. (The class was awesome – you should take it!) 

After the eight-week class was finished, the TA, Dylan Stableford, asked me to write a testimonial on Mediabistro.com for an upcoming class he was teaching. The acquisitions editor at Globe Pequot Press, Gillian Belnap, was browsing the Mediabistro site looking for someone with a strong journalism background and experience or an interest in humor writing. She came across my testimonial, Googled me and sent me an email asking if I wanted to write the New York installment of their Curiosities series!

Wait — before you go canceling my college speaking tour, know that there’s more of a lesson to be learned here than sit around and wait and the book deal will find you. The lesson is: More than one road leads to publishing. Beyond pitching books directly, take a class, network, do a favor for a colleague and anything else you can think of because you never know where it will lead. 

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to go look at my name on the cover. I’m a little behind today – it’s only been 257 times!

The question I’m most frequently asked is: How did you find the curiosities for the book? Well, I can tell you that Googling “curiosity,” “weird,” “odd” or “bizarre” doesn’t really work. (Believe me, I tried!)
 
My starting point was the state and local tourism bureaus. They’re the ones on the ground and they know where the bodies are buried –- sometimes literally -– and even where their ghosts are said to dwell! And, when it came to local lore, I went to town historians. The truth is out there, and they’ve got the documentation!
 
I also read a lot of newspapers -– on and offline -– and told everyone I knew that I was writing a book about curiosities. Before you knew it, friends were telling me about curiosities –- even curiosities were telling me about other curiosities!
 
You know that old story — If a butterfly flaps its wings on the other side of the world, it will start a chain of events that ultimately comes back to you? Sometimes it was like that. My favorite butterfly chain started with my friend Emily flagging an article she read in New York Metro about a junk museum in Brooklyn. I went there and the guy I was interviewing said, “Hey, do you know there’s an angel or something in that Brooklyn cemetery on the waterfront that’s waving back to the Statue of Liberty?” When I arrived at the cemetery, I asked a maintenance guy where the office was and, of course, told him I was writing a book. He told me where to go then said, “Hey, do you know about the wild parrots in Brooklyn?”
 
So, my advice is: Always be curious and don’t be quiet about it –- tell everyone you know!

This book was truly a labor of love. I spent the better portion of three years – and my savings – traveling around the state in pursuit of the most interesting people, places and things this state has to offer. I met some amazing people along the way and I’m thrilled to be able to share their stories.
 
It’s a great arm-chair read and will give you tons of material for your next watercooler show. I hope it also inspires you to get in the car and drive. Sure, I’m an amazing storyteller (hey, stop laughing) but some of these things you just gotta see yourself!
 
People always want to know how I found the curiosities and which ones were my favorites. I’ll answer those questions, plus tell you some of the hilarious stories behind the stories in this blog.
 
First, please buy a copy of my book. Also, remember it makes a great gift for family and friends! Then, check back with my blog, where more hilarity will ensue.
 
Thanks for stopping by. Come again!